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Obama’s Lapels

INDEPENDENCE, Iowa – American flags are waving throughout this small eastern Iowa town, but you won’t find one attached to the lapel of Senator Barack Obama. And today, that has created a bit of a dustup on the campaign trail.

Let’s take this from the beginning.

In a television interview on Wednesday, Mr. Obama was asked why he wasn’t wearing an American flag on his suit. “Is this a fashion statement? Those have been on politicians since Sept. 12, 2001.” a reporter for KCRG-TV in Cedar Rapids said.

“The truth is that right after 9/11 I had a pin,” Mr. Obama replied. “Shortly after 9/11, particularly because as we’re talking about the Iraq war, that became a substitute for, I think, true patriotism, which is speaking out on issues that are of importance to our national security.

“I decided I won’t wear that pin on my chest,” he added. “Instead I’m gonna’ try to tell the American people what I believe what will make this country great and hopefully that will be a testimony to my patriotism.”

The interview passed with little notice until this afternoon, when The Associated Press moved a story that included the quotes from Mr. Obama. Campaign aides, concerned that his remarks might be portrayed as unpatriotic, chose not to let the moment pass.

So Mr. Obama addressed the matter directly shortly after arriving here in Independence, where the crowd was oblivious to the back-and-forth.

“Somebody noticed I wasn’t wearing a flag lapel pin and I told folks, well you know what? I haven’t probably worn that pin in a very long time. I wore it right after 9/11. But after a while, you start noticing people wearing a lapel pin, but not acting very patriotic. Not voting to provide veterans with resources that they need. Not voting to make sure that disability payments were coming out on time.

“My attitude is that I’m less concerned about what you’re wearing on your lapel than what’s in your heart. And you show your patriotism by how you treat your fellow Americans, especially those who served. You show your patriotism by being true to our values and our ideals and that’s what we have to lead with is our values and our ideals.”

With that, Mr. Obama returned to his regularly scheduled speech here in Independence, where the town motto is, “America’s Fame Is In Our Name.”

We need more politicians with the courage to stop this phony baloney symbolic patriotism. There is much to do in this area. I recall when General Petraeus testified before Congress he must have had ten pounds of medals pinned to his chest. That must be a problem at airports. He was luckier than I. My son lost all my war decorations in the sand box. This elevation of symbols to a status which many feel is excessive can be a problem in a society. I once read that when Joseph Stalin entered a room everyone stood and applauded. Then it became a matter of courage who dared to stop applauding first.

Sen. Obama may have reasons for not wearing an American flag on his lapel. The reasons may be honest and heart felt. The value of wearing it may well have been diminished by the self-serving politicians who have abused the symbol for political purposes. But Obama and his staff must be politically tone deaf not to think that someone wouldn’t eventually notice. And ask questions that would require explanations. And more questions. And more explanations.
And more diversions from the hard questions facing America.
All this hoopla could have been avoided. He could have worn a Liberty Bell pin. Or a pin with the original US flag of 13 Stars to reflect his personal beliefs about patriotism or his nuanced position on Iraq and the American troops that are fighting in Iraq.
But the hard reality of American politics is that if you want to be President of the United States you need to be willing to visibly show your support for the US in a time of war, and show American voters that you believe in America. Now that belief may be different from that of Bush, or the neo-cons or Clinton.
You can argue about what the flag represents, or what America should be fighting for. But you cannot avoid controversy if you are seen as being unwilling to stand behind the flag of your couhntry in a time of war. And nuanced explanations will not avoid the controversey.

That statement he is quoted as saying doesn’t convince me at all. Why would it have been patriotic before to wear the pin and not now? Why doesn’t he just say that he was following the status quo right after 911, but now he no longer feels the need too. The whole problem with his statement is that he’s trying to blame someone for a decision that he made on his own. In doing so, it looks like excuse making in regards to patriotism. Is this the change that we want in Washington?

Give me a break…I’m a Hillary supporter, but whether or not Obama is wearing a flag on his lapel is no reflection of his patriotism — and neither are his views on Iraq any more than the rest of us.

The unpatriotic ones are those who suggest that not agreeing with Bush’s policies (Iraq, pre-emptive strikes, etc.) are somehow less patriotic. Displaying or wearing a flag on one’s lapel is no reflection of a person’s patriotism or lack thereof.

Must be a slow news day — or there are seriously bored journalists out there.

Here’s something to admire Obama for.
Let him keep it up and divest Republican faux patriots of their showy flags, which are symbols intended as substitutes for evading military service or more likely being afraid to fight.
This is necessary, overdue and reveals a good tough side to Obama.

People ragging on Obama for no pin??? Just ridiculous if you ask me. Are people defined by their American flag pin or lack there one of? Goes to show how petty and sorry our political culture has become.

It is obvious why Obama is not wearing an American flag pin on his lapel — HE HATES AMERICA! Wait until Rush and Hannity and O’Reilly take Barack Hussein Obama behind the woodshed for his obvious terrorist-loving fashion statement.
Since 9/11, everyone knows all you have to do is wear a flag on your lapel and no one will dare question your love for America, or for Republicans, every single policy idea that you can come up with. Veto S-CHIP? Its creeping communism. Withdraw from Iraq? NO way, then the terrorists would win. Tax cuts for the rich? Of course, only a terrorist would oppose that. Torture and indefinite detention? Of course, we’re only torturing terrorists, they deserve it.
Only Republicans love America and are willing to defend it with other people’s money and blood. The liberals first wanted to give America to the Commies, then to the gays, and now to the terrorists. They must be stopped!

Amen for Barak Obama. His statements around this question have solidly secured my support for him. The greatest and truest patriots show it through their actions, not their lapel pins.

Acting in accordance with the principles that our country supposes itself to be based on is so much more important than wrapping oneself in the symbols of patriotism (while so often acting like scoundrel).

Forced patriotism is oppression. Like the current fad of playing God Bless America during the seventh inning stretch at baseball games. We don’t need or want others to tell us when and how to love our country. And we don’t need to be accused of not loving our country when we stand in opposition to phony wars and phony patriots in the White House.

Good for Obama — we need someone, finally who is willing to be called “unpatriotic” by small-minded attackers, and stop the sound-byte patriotism.
An American flag pin does not a patriot make.
This is (hopefully) why he’ll be our next president.

It’s about time. I’m tired of flag-wavers who doubt their own patriotism so much that they have to affirm it by wearing a meaningless symbol. If they fully understood (with apologies to those who do, but wear it for political reasons) what patriotism is, they’d be ashamed of their inner need to flaunt a bit of metal or a bolt of cloth. True patriotism is rooted in understanding the foundation of a country’s beliefs and supporting them in daily work and action.

As a person with conservative fiscal and social views, I couldn’t agree more with Obama’s stated stance. Patriotism is not demonstrated by what you wear, but how you act. You should not judge someone for failing to wear a patriotic symbol, nor for wearing one.

I applaud Obama’s willingness to challenge the superficiality so easily associated with politics. When will we require our elected leaders to say and do what really matters rather than what they think will get them elected?

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